Gimme Shelter: Special Edition

Arguably the greatest rock film ever released, and indisputably one of the most important documentaries made on any subject, Gimme Shelter is now also a landmark DVD release. This wild and harrowing chronicle of the Rolling Stones' notorious 1969 tour, that ended, literally, with the death of innocence during the Altamont Speedway concert, features a beautifully remastered and restored high-def transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS and Dolby stereo mixes, and a slew of extras, including a full-length commentary by filmmakers Albert Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, never-before-seen performances by the Stones, and a 44-page booklet packed with critical essays and first-hand accounts. DVD releases don't get anymore gotta-have than this one! Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (S. C. Sickles)[Blu-ray Review—Dec. 8, 2009—Criterion, 91 min., not rated, $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1970's Gimme Shelter sports a nice transfer with DTS-HD sound. Blu-ray extras include audio commentary with directors Albert Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin and collaborator Stanley Goldstein, a 1969 radio broadcast from KSAN Radio's Altamont wrap-up (90 min.), outtakes and bonus performances including “Oh Carol” and “Prodigal Son” (19 min.), two stills galleries featuring the work of renowned photographers Bill Owens and Beth Sunflower, and a booklet with essays by film critics Amy Taubin and Godfrey Cheshire, music writers Stanley Booth and Michael Lydon, and Mick Jagger's former assistant Georgia Bergman. Bottom line: a classic music doc makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]